Caerleon

Hello!

As promised, I am back in a somewhat timely fashion! It’s nice to have a moment to talk about all things knitting, after so many months away! I’m really pleased with the performance of my Dragonflies in Amber design, and especially with all the lovely test knitters who helped to bring recognition to the pattern!

Today I want to highlight a design I released all the way back in August. It’s called Caerleon Mantelet and Fingerless Mitts, and strangely enough, it’s one of my very first knitting designs. I held onto it for quite a long time, and finally decided to put together the pattern this year.

Caerleon is an elegant set, meant to be worn with evening wear on a chilly night. The little mantelet laces up the front with a collar. While the overall design is quite simple, it does have a few intriguing elements. First, it features a Celtic medallion at each shoulder.

Intricate and beautiful, this cable medallion adds to the look of the mantelet. Also interesting is the contrast between the silky blend of the main yarn (I used Knit Picks Gloss DK) and the ethereal aura of the mohair blend used for the lace trim (I used Knit Picks Aloft). Two different gauges and textures create depth in this design, and the contrasting yarns are both very elegant in their own way.

Along with the mantelet, this pattern includes a set of gauntlet-length fingerless mitts. The mitts echo the Celtic medallion on the upper hand, and they feature the same eyelets for lacing with a fine ribbon.

The mitts have mohair-blend lace at the upper arm for a frilly and elegant trim. Warm without being bulky, these mitts will cover the arm to the elbow while the mantelet covers the shoulders. It’s so nice to have an elegant cover to take the chill off the evening!

Now, as I mentioned, this is actually one of my very first designs. I brainstormed the idea for Caerleon sometime in 2016, when I had the bold plan to create a collection based on medieval places. Other of my designs have come from this same concept, including the Sherwood Forest Cloche and the Lindisfarne Mantle. While I never actually put together the collection, I may yet do so in the future!

My prototype of the Caerleon (knit all the way back in 2017) featured a completely unknown silk blend cone yarn in a pale green-gold.

After sitting on the design for years, I decided to reinvent it in Knit Picks yarns and a fresh colorway. I’m pleased with the updated look.

Caerleon is a location in Wales heavily associated with Arthurian legend. In my original vision of the design, I wanted to create something elegant, almost regal, to evoke Queen Guinevere, Arthur’s wife and the beloved of his knight Lancelot. Hence the Celtic medallion theme and the evening-ready ensemble.

I have a few more ideas on file from that original collection, and I will slowly work to update them and set them free into the world. In the meantime, you can find Caerleon Mantelet and Fingerless Mitts for sale on Ravelry, along with other Celtic-themed designs!

Before leaving, I want to mention that I will be running a sale on all of my independent designs during cyber week. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming sale!